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Lead poisoning (saturnism) has been present throughout the history of mankind. In addition to possible ingestion from contaminated food, one of the most important ways in which poisoning caused morbid processes was by occupational exposure. This exposition was pandemic in the Roman Empire, and it has been claimed that it contributed to its fall, bu...
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Context 1
... addition to its abundance and easy removal, lead shows many properties that have made it so attractive since early times: it is easy to work, has a low melting point, a high resistance to corrosion from atmospheric elements, easily retains pigments, etc. These features have made this metal an essential element in ancient societies, but also caused epidemics of chronic intoxication (Table 1) (Aufderheide and Rodríguez Martin, 1998;Hernberg, 2000;Needelman, 2004;Warren, 2000). ...
Context 2
... 1934, researchers observed the alteration of iron incorpo- ration into heme molecules, causing the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in erythro- cytes, and later the shortened life span of the erythrocytes in patients with lead poisoning. In 1960, increased excretion of delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) in the urine of lead workers was noted, and in 1965 it was observed that lead inhibits the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALA-D), which leads to the increase in the excretion of delta-ALA (Hernberg, 2000;Pearce, 2007;Riva et al., 2012) (Table 1). ...
Citations
... Lead poisoning produces many health problems including melancholy, colic, and attacks on the central nervous system. Many artists working with lead saw a significant decline in their health (Cipriani et al. 2018;Montes-Santiago 2013). However, artists continued to work with toxic pigments as they did not know the exact cause of their maladies. ...
The use of poisonous pigments for mortuary preparation in ancient hunter-gatherers allows us to investigate the relationship between this practice with socio-economic organization, mortuary ideology, and potential impacts on human health from overexposure to these dangerous compounds. About 6000 years ago, the Chinchorro people, maritime hunter-gatherers in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile, began mining manganese to ornament the dead, representing the earliest form of artificial mummification in the world. We present the analysis of the bones from 68 Chinchorro mummies using flame atomic absorption spectrometry, revealing, for the first time, the presence of manganese in their bodies. We excluded the potential diagenesis by comparison of manganese concentration difference between the cemetery soils and outer coating of the mummy and by manganese source identification by SEM/EDX. Approximately 84% (57/68) of individuals have manganese concentrations beyond normal 1 ppm and 20.6% (14/68) were overexposed to levels of higher toxicity (≥ 10 ppm), with no sex differences, suggesting equal participation in manganese handling. We conclude that manganese exploitation and refining for the ritualistic treatment of the dead posed a serious occupational hazard for the living, with evidence that many of the Chinchorro people were likely involved in these activities. This is relevant, considering manganese dust inhalation produces neurological disorders and Parkinson-like symptoms. These findings open new avenues for research into the long history of anthropogenic pollution in the Americas and the importance of mineral gathering and processing as part of a broader subsistence spectrum undertaken by these ancient hunters, gatherers, and fishers.
... The symptoms of lead poisoning consist of abdominal pain, constipation, hearing loss, irritability, learning disorders, seizures, and vomiting. In a recent study, it was suggested that many post-Renaissance artists (e.g., Francisco Goya, Caravaggio, Michelangelo) were afflicted by this disease, often referred to as saturnism, due to exposure to lead in paints [82]. Today, exposure to heavy metals in face paint is still a concern for Chinese opera actors [83]. ...
There has been interest in the history of cosmetics for the last several decades. In part, this renewed curiosity is probably due to the revolutionizing natural movement in the cosmetic industry. In this article, we provide an overview of the historical aspects of the use of natural ingredients in cosmetics, which mostly come from botanical and mineral sources. We begin with an introduction to the art and science of cosmetics in the ancient world, which includes accounts of Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and Roman cosmetics as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. These dermatological and cosmetic practices, which were advanced for the time, paved the way for the current revolution of natural ingredients in cosmetic products. Without providing a comprehensive historical account, we surveyed selected cultures during different periods of time to provide some perspective of our current understanding of natural ingredients in cosmetics. Attention is also given to the rich contributions of body art by tribal societies to our knowledge base, especially in the areas of dyes and pigments. Finally, we offer some perspective of natural ingredient cosmetics in the Information Age.
... A finales de la Edad Media y durante el Renacimiento, el saturnismo se consideraba una enfermedad específica de orfebres y artistas. En este sentido, en 1713, el médico italiano Bernardinus Ramazzini describió un conjunto de síntomas que notaba entre los artistas y puso en relación con la consecuencia nociva de los pigmentos que empleaban 3 . De este modo, está documentado que autores como Miguel Ángel, Caravaggio, Rubens, Van Gogh o Goya presentaron síntomas de intoxicación por plomo 3 . ...
... Además, la exposición al plomo está presente en el 62,5% de casos de insuficiencia del desarrollo intelectual, del 8,2% de la cardiopatía hipertensiva, del 7,2% de las cardiopatías isquémicas y del 5,65% de los accidentes cerebrovasculares. 7 5 PULSE PARA VOLVER AL ÍNDICE [4][5][6] ARN de los reticulocitos en las vías de maduración 3 . Esto se traduce en el desarrollo de anemia hemolítica y anemia megaloblástica, con glóbulos rojos más grandes, frágiles y con menor vida media. ...
... Lead poisoning manifests faster in children and can impair the function of the brain (Lo et al., 2012;Medecins Sans Frontieres, 2012;Sulaymon et al., 2014). It has been refered to as: plumbism, saturnism, colica pictorum, devon colic, or painter's colic, and records of devastating lead poisoning are available all around the world (Haley, 1971;Marcus Bleasdale, 2011;Lo et al., 2012;Montes-Santiago, 2013;Seaton, 2014;Orisakwe, 2014;Izah et al., 2017;Yusuf et al., 2019). The major industrial applications of cadmium include the production of alloys, pigments, and batteries (Tchounwou et al., 2012). ...
Lead and cadmium are typical heavy metals that poses series of environmental and health risks when discharged indiscriminately. Starch is an abundant, renewable, physicochemically versatile and environment friendly biopolymer. Consequently, application of starch derivatives adsorbents (SDAs) in the removal/adsorption (as used interchangeably hereafter) of aqueous heavy metal ions (AHMIs) from water constitutes economical and sustainable water treatment techniques. Starch derivatives are developed to offset the intrinsic limitations of native starch, and impact requisite functional and structural properties. SDAs have been extensively studied for the removal of AHMIs, and this review is focused on the removal of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, using SDAs categorized as single modified starch (SMS), dual modified starch (DMS), multiple modified starch (MMS), and graft copolymer/composite starch (GCS). This review also discuss the methods used in the synthesis of the SDAs, their affinity for the removal of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, and the mechanisms involved in the processes.
... 8,10,[15][16][17] Compelling pieces of evidence point to post-traumatic fibromyalgia, 18 and some authors refer to lead poisoning. 19 The chronic lesion, described as a "trophic ulcer" on the right foot, has been seen as a complication of severe trauma in a limb with neurological deficiencies from polio. 3,6,8,10 Also, Post-Polio syndrome has been invoked. ...
Frida Kahlo's medical history shows sequelae of polio, a severe traumatic event that caused multiple fractures and a penetrating pelvic injury, as well as a history of countless surgeries. In her biographical accounts and her works, chronic disabling pain always appears for long periods. Besides, a chronic foot ulcer, gangrene that required amputation of the right leg, a history of abortions, and a positive Wasserman reaction suggest that the artist could have suffered from antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS).
... Painters often become colourless themselves by colouring others, perhaps because they often clean the brush, stained with copper, mercury, and other metals, with their mouth. They usually suffer from painter's colic 35 , from the twisted body position, especially when they are busy painting ceilings. ...
... 34 Mercurial ointment was used as a treatment for syphilis. 35 Painter's colic refers to lead poisoning. Pigments of colours included lead (Montes-Santiago, 2013). ...
This study presents the first full translation from Latin to English of the Linnaean dissertation Morbi Artificum or Occupational diseases, submitted by Nicholas Skragge in 1765. It consists of an essay that places the dissertation in historical and scientific context and of the translation. Skragge’s thesis has not only significance in the history of occupational medicine but also provides a perspective on Linnaeus’ thinking on dietetics. Skragge’s doctoral thesis is one of the 186 academic dissertations defended by students of Carl Linnaeus. Prior to the present study, only three of these 186 dissertations have been translated from Latin to English in our own times. The first extensive compendium on occupational diseases by Bernardino Ramazzini, with the title De Morbis Artificum Diatriba, served as a blueprint for Skragge’s thesis. The background for Skragge’s thesis was Linnaeus’ general interest in systematizing objects according to certain norms in biology, which methodology he also applied when classifying diseases in medicine. Also, Linnaeus’ life-long emphasis on the importance of dietetics is evident in the thesis. Finally, in the era when Linnaeus lived (Age of Liberty), Sweden focused greatly on improving the country’s economy. Since trade and industry were prioritized by the state, it was reasonable to map the diseases workers were prone to.
... Mental disorders called "painter's colic" or "painter's madness" displayed by some of the great masters, including Michelangelo and Caravaggio, are also attributed to lead poisoning. The possibility of lead poisoning is also mentioned in the case of famous composers Beethoven and Händel [4,5]. Lead exposure causes dysfunction of blood and nervous systems. ...
Novel 18- and 23-membered diazomacrocycles were obtained with satisfactory yields by diazocoupling of aromatic diamines with pyrrole in reactions carried under high dilution conditions. X-ray structure of macrocycle bearing five carbon atoms linkage was determined and described. Compounds were characterized as chromogenic heavy metal ions receptors. Selective color and spectral response for lead(II) was found in acetonitrile and its mixture with water. Complexation properties of newly obtained macrocycles with a hydrocarbon chain were compared with the properties of their oligoether analogs. The influence of the introduction of hydrocarbon residue as a part of macrocycle on the lead(II) binding was discussed. Selective and sensitive colorimetric probe for lead(II) in aqueous acetonitrile with detection limit 56.1 mg/L was proposed.
... Pb, Ni, Cd and Cr are naturally occurring elements that are present in a human body at trace levels. Ingestion of Pb in a human body can cause saturnism poisoning, which is associated with the symptoms such as weight loss, anemia, lead colic, neurological impairments, kidney and liver damage and many others (Montes-Santiago, 2013). ...
Heavy metal toxicity can either be acute or chronic effects. Long-term exposure of the body to heavy metal can progressively lead to muscular, physical and neurological degenerative process. In this research, a total of 30 representative chocolate samples were collected from local shops and markets in Lahore. All the samples were analysed to assess the levels of Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr) and Cadmium (Cd) by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Lahore. It was observed that the majority of chocolate samples contain heavy metals levels higher than the permissible limits as recommended by Punjab Food Rules (PFR) 2011. The levels of Pb ranged between 0.375 and 3.4 mg/kg with 90% samples having concentrations exceeding PFR allowable limit (0.5 mg/kg). Whereas, Ni concentrations varied from 0.005 to 0.28 mg/kg and 80% samples were above the PFR limit (0.025 mg/kg). Further, Cr levels analysed between 0.005 to 0.28 mg/kg and 53% samples had Cr concentrations higher than PFR limit (0.02 mg/kg). Similarly, Cd levels were observed between 0.50-3.25 mg/kg with 53% samples having Cd concentrations exceeding the PFR limit (1.0 mg/kg). Investigation indicates that the quality of available chocolates is not recommendable for eating because of the higher concentrations of toxic heavy metals.
... The sample from Lithuania exhibits evidence of comparatively lower biogenic Pb enrichment of internal bone microarchitecture. Cultural pathways of Pb exposure at this time occurred through ammunition, utensils, food containers, paints, pigments, glazes, glazes, solders, beverages, water catchments, and plumbing (Lessler, 1988;Montes-Santiago, 2013;Warren, 2001). ...
Bones represent a valuable biological archive of environmental lead (Pb) exposure for modern and archaeological populations. Synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence imaging (SR-XFI) generates maps of Pb in bone on a microstructural scale, potentially providing insights into an individual’s history of Pb exposure and, in the context of archaeological bone, the biogenic or diagenetic nature of its uptake. The aims of this study were to (1) examine biogenic spatial patterns for Pb from bone samples of modern cadavers compared with patterns observed archaeologically, and (2) test the hypothesis that there are spatial differences in the distribution of Pb for diagenetic and biogenic modes of uptake in bone. To address these aims, this study used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and SR-XFI on unaltered and experimentally altered cadaveric bone samples (University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK) and archaeological bone samples from 18th to 19th century archaeological sites from Antigua and Lithuania. Bone concentrations of modern individuals are relatively low compared to those of archaeological individuals. SR-XFI results provide insights into modern Saskatchewan Pb exposure with some samples demonstrating a pattern of relatively low Pb exposure with higher levels of Pb exposure occurring in bone structures of a relatively older age that formed earlier in life, likely during the era of leaded gasoline (pre-1980s), and other samples demonstrating a pattern of fairly consistent, low-level exposure. Results support hypotheses for the spatial distribution of Pb corresponding to biogenic vs. diagenetic uptake. Diagenetic Pb is mainly confined to the periosteal surface of each sample with some enrichment of cracks and sub-periosteal canals. This may be useful in the future for differentiating diagenetic from biogenic Pb accumulation, analyzing environmental contamination, and informing sampling strategies in archaeological or fossil bone.
... 8,10,[15][16][17] Compelling pieces of evidence point to post-traumatic fibromyalgia, 18 and some authors refer to lead poisoning. 19 The chronic lesion, described as a "trophic ulcer" on the right foot, has been seen as a complication of severe trauma in a limb with neurological deficiencies from polio. 3,6,8,10 Also, Post-Polio syndrome has been invoked. ...
Frida Kahlo's medical history shows sequelae of polio, a severe traumatic event that caused multiple fractures and a penetrating pelvic injury, as well as a history of countless surgeries. In her biographical accounts and her works, chronic disabling pain always appears for long periods. Besides, a chronic foot ulcer, gangrene that required amputation of the right leg, a history of abortions, and a positive Wasserman reaction suggest that the artist could have suffered from antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS).
